Reserve valve for tanks



May 21, 1929. v 5 5; STAHL 1,714,250

RESERVE VALVE FOR TANKS Filed March 14', 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I VENTOR,2%filexr B d May 21, 1929. s. s. STAH'L 1,714,250

RESERVE VALVE FOR TANKS Filed March 14, 19 27 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 WklesaIN VEI: TOR.

' A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 21 1929.

UNITED v STATES v I 1,714,250 PATENT, OFFICE.

SAMUEL s. 's'rAn OF KANSAS envy, KANSAS.

RESERVE VALVE 'FOR TANKS.

Application filed J larch 14,1927. Serial No. 175,309.

able the supply to be replenished before the tank has become completelyempty.

Accordingly one of my objectsis to devise a construction of thischaracter in which the tank or receptacle is provided withan outlet portthrough which the normal fiow of the liquid from the tank vtakesplace,and also with a reserve outlet passage below the level of the firstoutlet port and a valve controlling said reserve outlet, and combinedwithmeans whereby this valve is maintained locked in its closed positionso long as there is any liquid in the receptacle above the norinalsupply or discharge outlet port.

, A further object of my improvement is to provide, in connection with aconstruction of this character, a valve locking means which is adaptedto be automatically unlocked to permit the use of the reserve supply assoon as the liquid in the receptacle falls below the level correspondingto the level of the normal outlet or discharge port.

Another of the principal objects of the invention is to provide areceptacle or tank structure having a closure cap and also an outletport and a reserve outlet and valve controlling the reserve supply,together with means either preventing orobstructing the removal of theclosure cap so long as the reserve valve occupies a closed position.

It is also my object to devise a practical, comparatively simple as wellas efficient arrangement and construction for filling these severalfunctions, and also a structure adapted for convenient application tothe usual type of gasoline tank forming a part of the fuel supplyequipment of automobiles and requiring no expensive alterations or anyskilled labor for its installation. 1

With these general objects in view,fthe invention will now be describedby reference tothe accompanying drawings, illustrating one form ofembodiment of the invention which I have found to be practical, afterwhich those features and combinations deemed to be novel will beparticularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation, partly broken away andillustratinga reserve valve construction embodying the invention andinstalled in connection with the fuel supply tankof the vtypeemployed onautomobiles;

Figure-2 is ,a fragmentary plan view, on

an enlarged scale, showing a portion of said tank and the valvestructure associated therewith; V Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view,shoW- inga section on the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figures 4,5 and 6 are transverse sectional views, representing sectionstaken on the lines IV- IV, V-V, and VI VI, respectively of Figure 3;

Figure? is a fragmentaryplan view, similar to Figure 2, illustrating amodification of the reserve valve .finger in its relation to the fillercap or tank closure element; and Figure 8 is a section taken on the lineVIIIV-III of "Figure 7 Referring now to the drawings in detail, theseillustrate my improved reserve valve constructionlin relation .to agasoline or fuel supply tank 10 of well known form, having thefillercap-or closure element 12 at the top, and an outlet opening 18 atthebottom reinforced by'jthe flanged ring castingli which is internallythreaded as indicated at 15 for receiving the sediment bulb (not shown)forming a part of'the usual fuel line connections leading tothecarbureter. ent construction I provide a casting 16 threaded'to fit thethreaded opening 15 and having a central fuel passage 17 provided with avalve 18 for controlling the outlet to the pipe line 19, all as clearlyillustrated in Figure 3.

The upper portion or face of the part 16 is provided withan annularrib20 adapted to fit inside the lower edge of the cylindrical screenelement 22 designed to be supported by'the part 16 within the tank 10.Projecting upwardly from the central portion of the part 16 is thesleeve extension 24' bored to'receive and journal a sleeve valve 25 thelower end of which is rotatably supported upon the annular shoulder 26formed in'the passage 1.7 above the valve 18 (Figure 3). The lower endportion of the sleeve 25 is also formedwith a reserve outlet opening-27adapted, by a quarter turn o'fgthe valve,'to be'brought into registerwith a reserve'outlet port 28 in the sleeve extension 24 for permittingdischarge of the reserve supply'within the tank,see Figure 5.

In the pres- I Secured by screws 29 to the opposite sides of the sleeveextension 24 is a yoke frame member 30 extending to a height somewhatabove the upper margin of the screen element 22, this upper margin beingfitted with a suitable ring 32 for reinforcing this screen and helpingto maintain its regular shape and permitting the smooth rise and fall ofa float element 33 somewhat smaller in diameter than the diameter of thescreen 22. As represented in Figures 3 and l, the float member 33 is ofannular form for accommodating the sides of the yoke frame 30 within theinterior of the float. Diametrieally across the top of the float- 33 isalso arranged a flat cross piece 34 rigidly supporting a boxingaccommodated within the upper end of the yoke frame 30, and through thisboxing and also the upper transverse portion of the yoke frame 30 isrotatably mounted one segment 36 of the valve ope 'ating rod, the lowerend of which is secured to the upper end of the valve sleeve 25, asshown in Figure 3. This rod segment 36 is formedor provided with a blockelement 37 which is adapted to be slidingly accommodated, in thevertical movements of the float 33, within a correspondingly shapedopening 39 formed in the cross piece 34, (see Figure 4). It apparentthat with this construction and arrangement, and with this arrangementof the ports 27 and 28 as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the valve 25 lockedwith its port 7 out of register with the port 28 in every posit-ion ofthe float 33 except in the lowermost position of the float when theopening or slot 39 in the cross piece 34 becomes completely disengagedfrom the block element 37, as will be the case when the float 33occupiesthe dotted line position represented in Figure 3. In every otherposition of said float, including the full, line position shown inFigure 3, the valve rod is locked by engagement of the block 37 with thecross frame piece 3 1, by virtue of the float member 33 itselfbeinglocked against rotative movement by the sides of the yoke frame 30embracing the side edges of said cross piece 34, as clearly representedin Figure 4-. The provision of the boxing 35 affording the extra bearingon the rod segment 36, gives a better guiding effect to the movement ofthe float element 33, than would be the case without the boxingstructure 35. i r

The rod segment 36 is connected to an upper rod segment 36 the upper endof which is journaled in a bearing element 40 fitted in the top of thetank 10, and the outer projecting end of the rod segment 36 is fittedwith an arm or finger L2, preferably positioned to project intooverlying relation to the fillercap or closure element 12 when thereserve valve is in open position.

The connection between the rod segments 36 and 36" comprises a sleevemember 44 attached by rivets 45 or the like to the segments, the lowerend of the sleeve 44 carrying an arm orfinger 46 adapted for movementbetween two stop lugs 47 located at the opposite ends of a quadrantbracket 48 preferably formed integral with the top of the yoke frame 30,as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. By the provision of the stops 47 theoperative movement of the valve is so controlled and regulated as tolimit it at the proper points for the full-open and fullclosedpositions, respectively, of the said valve. Since the position of thearm or finger 4-2 is so chosen as to overlie the filler cap or closureelement 12 when the reserve valve is open, it is apparent that thefiller cap cannot be removed until said arm or finger 42 is swung out ofthe way for permitting the removal of the filler cap, and this obviouslyrestores the reserve valve into closed position.

A modification of the construction for preventing the removal of thefiller cap until the reserve valve has been closed is illustrated inFigures 7 and 3, where the arm or finger 4:2 is secured. to the upperrod segment 36 at a point inside the tank and slightlybelow the filleropening and yet in position to be engaged by a pin 50 depending from thefiller capl2, the relation of the pin 50 and finger 42 being such thatthe initial turning movement of the cap 12 for opening the same willengage and rotate the finger 4:2 far enough to close the reserve valvein the same manner as would be accomplished by the turning of theexterior finger 42 in the preferred construction.

The use and operation of the construction will, in view of the abovedescription, be readily understood, and may be briefly set forth asfollows. lVhile designed especially for truck or automobile use, it isof course adaptable to all fuel or liquid supply tanks or receptacles,the supply being used up by feeding out through the upper openings 25until only the reserve supply is left, until which time the float 33,following the liquid level, has maintained the valve 25 locked; but onreaching its lowermost position the reserve valve is free to be unlockedby manipulation of the finger 42, or, in the construction shown inFigures 7 and 8, by a suitable key applied to the square outer end ofthe rod 36. The screen 22 serves to prevent any impurities being passedto the fuel line 19, in the same way as the usualexterior sediment bulband thus eliminates the use of the latter. The exhaust of all but thereserve supply gives positive notice to the driver that the supply offuel must be replenished, as he cannot continue operation until he hasoperated the reserve valve, and he naturally avails himself of thisoppordrive the same car at different times, such a reserve valveconstruction eliminates the necessity of watching the tank for shortagesince the person starting to use the reserve supply cannot fail to knowthe condition of the supply, and also knows just what quan tity of fuelis required to renew it, or fill the tank. I

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as thepreferred form of construction for embodying my invention, I desire toreserve the right to make all such changes or modifications as mayfairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A reserve valve construction comprise ing, in combination with areceptacle provided with an outlet port permitting fiow from thereceptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passagepermitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valvecontrolling said reserve outlet passage, and telescoping float-actuatedlocking elements acting to maintain said valve locked in closed positionso long as the liquid in the receptacle is above said level.

2. A reserve valve construction comprising, in combination with areceptacle provided with an outlet port permitting flow from thereceptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passagepermitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valvecontrolling said reserve outlet passage, and valve locking meanscomprising separable, positively engaging locking elements adapted to beautomatically separated for unlock ing the valve as the liquid in thereceptacle falls below said level.

3. A reserve valve construction comprising, in combination with areceptacle provided with an outlet port permitting flow from thereceptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passagepermitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valvecontrolling said reserve outlet passage, and locking means comprisingseparable, pos

tively engaging locking elements operating automatically to maintainsaid valve normally locked in closed position and including a floatmember automatically acting to disengage said locking elements forunlocking said valve as the liquid falls below said level.

4:. A reserve valve construction comprising, in combination with areceptacle provided with an outlet port permitting flow from thereceptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passagepermitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valvecontrolling said reserve outlet passage and provided with an operatingrod, and a float slidably engaging said rod and operative to receptacleis above said level and to unlock the rod as the liquid falls below saidlevel. I 5. A reserve valve construction comprising, in combination witha receptacle provided with an-outlet port permitting flow from thereceptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passagepermitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valvecontrolling said reserve outlet passage, a hollow screen mountedinpo'sition to screen the liquidprior to entering either said outletport or outlet passage,iand a float vertically slidable'within saidscreen and operative to maintain said valve locked in closed lock thesame so long as the liquid in the position so long as the liquid in therecep- V tacle is above said level.

6. A reserve valve construction compris- 7 A receptacle provided with areserve outlet passage, a positively acting valve adapted to bemanually-operated from the exterior of the receptacle for controllingsaid outlet passage, and independently movable fioat-operated meansmaintaining said valve positively locked until the contents of thereceptacle fall below a predetermined level.

8. A receptacle provided with a filling cap and also with a reserveoutlet passage, a valve for controlling said outlet passage, a rod foroperating said valve and provided with an exterior manually operable armrigidly connected with said rod and actuated by the opening movement ofthe valve into position for obstructing the removal of said cap, andmeans controlled automatically by the level of the liquid within thereceptacle for positively locking said valve and arm in valve-closedposition so long as said liquid is above a given level. 4

In witness whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

SAMUEL S. STAHL.

